Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta, Colm Meaney and Seu Jorge are all set to join the cast of Pele, a biopic of the legendary Brazilian soccer player, which will be written and directed by Michael Zimbalist and Jeff Zimbalist.
The film is already shooting in Brazil, telling the miraculous story of Pele’s rise to glory from a young boy to the 17-year-old player who scored the winning goal in Brazil’s first ever World Cup victory in 1958. From a life full of disadvantages and an impoverishment, Pele used his unorthodox yet authentic style of play and his unbeatable spirit to overcome all odds, find greatness and inspire a country that he changed forever.
D’Onofrio will play the Brazilian team’s World Cup coach, Feola, while Diego Boneta will play Jose, Pele’s arch rival and responsible for giving him the nickname when they were children (he was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento). Seu Jorge will be Pele’s father, Dondinho, while newcomer Kevin de Paula will be Pelé from age 13-17, with Leonardo Lima Carvalho will play him at age 10. Meaney is Coach Raynor, the Swedish World Cup coach.